Concessions and Entitlements

• Service Pension Cut-off limits
• Taxi Transport subsidy
• Travel concessions available to TPI members travelling interstate
• Increase in DVA Travel Allowances
• The Vietnam Veterans Trust Education Assistance Scheme (VVTEAS)

Changes to Service Pension Cut-off limits.
On June 26 2001 the Service Pension income cut-off limit changed. The new rates are:
Single pensioner less than $1,131.50 per fortnight and couples $1,892.00 per fortnight.
This should be good news for some veterans whose partners are working and/or are in receipt of DFRB for superannuation. You should check with your local Department of Veterans' Affairs VAN office to find out if you are eligible.

Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme
There is a Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme offered by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) in NSW for people with permanent and severe mobility restricting disabilities (examples: ambulatory problems- vision; epilepsy; intellectual and other functional disabilities) Eligibility for this subsidy is not related to any Veterans' Affairs benefits. If granted by the RTA, this qualifies the recipient a 50% discount on their taxi fares. For further information or application forms relating to the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme phone (02) 9689 8888 or contact your nearest RTA office.

Travel concessions available to TPI members travelling interstate
Victoria: Nil
Tasmania: Free travel pass on MTT buses for interstate visitors . MTT offices are at: (Hobart) Cnr Main Road & Springfield Avenue, Springfield TAS 7254 168 Wellington Street, Launceston TAS 7250 30 Strahan Street, Burnie TAS 7320
South Australia: Free travel for interstate visitors on Metroticket buses, trams and trains. Go to the Department of Veterans' Affairs office, 199 Grenfell Street, complete the free travel application form and have it endorsed, then take it to the Government Travel Office at 79 King William Street (cnr Currie Street), where they will issue you with a free 10 hour travel pass.
Western Australia: Free travel passes for interstate visitors on the Trans-Perth System can be obtained from Department of Veterans' Affairs, Level 12, AMP Building, 140 Georges Terrace, Perth.
Queensland: All interstate visitors holding a Transport Concession Card receive half fare in the Brisbane metropolitan area and country.
Australian Capital Territory: Free bus passes for interstate visitors to Canberra are available following presentation of a copy of your gold card, together with your full name, address, date of birth, and your phone number, from:John McGuire, Concession Officer, PO Box 1155, Tuggeranong ACT 2910 tel: (02) 62078109
New South Wales: Free travel pass for all interstate visitors on CityRail trains, State Transit buses, and ferries following presentation of your gold card to: Bob Jones, CityRail, Passes and Concessions, 5th Floor, 509 Pitt Street, Sydney Tel: (02) 93794441 fax: (02) 93794448

Increase in DVA Travel Allowances
The allowances payable to entitled veterans and war widows for travel to obtain medical treatment has increased from July 1. The Repatriation Commission has agreed to increase the amounts paid to veterans for meals, accommodation and kilometres. The new rates include a CPI adjustment and a component to compensate for the effects of the GST on the costs of those items under the New Tax System.
The costs of meals, accommodation and travel by private vehicle will be affected by the new taxation arrangements. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) estimates that the price of accommodation will rise between 7.5 and 9.0 percent, and the cost of meals by 8.6 and 9.2 percent. The overall impact on the kilometre allowance is only 0.65 percent as the price of the major component of fuel will, not change, and moves in the other components of tyres and maintenance largely offset one another.
The new rates, as set out below, have been adjusted according to the top of the range of the price rises predicted by the ACCC as the result of the GST. The amounts have been rounded in the same way as for indexation adjustments

The Vietnam Veterans Trust Education Assistance Scheme (VVTEAS)
This scheme ) provides grants, renewable each year, for selected Vietnam veteran's children. To apply for a VVTEAS grant a person must be: The child of a Vietnam veteran., Under the age of 25 when applying, unless exceptional circumstances exist; Enrolled, or planning to enrol full time, in a post- secondary course in Australia at up to first employment qualification level; Within the VVTEAS means test.
Full details are available from: Vietnam Veterans Trust, PO Box K978, Haymarket NSW 1240
tel (02) 9281 7077 fax: (02) 9281 9164 email: vvt@accsoft.com.au